The lake and glorious sunshine on a beautiful autumn day – where would you be but in Bala? We’d gathered for the 50^th anniversary of Bryn-y-groes. An afternoon of remembrances and encouragement from God’s word. It was good to see, although poignant for her, Mair Davies (J. Elwyn Davies’ widow) well enough to be there, along with Peter and Dianne Hallsworth, the former wardens. The Mayor of Bala congratulated the centre on the fifty year anniversary and commended it for the input into the local community.

We were given glimpses of the original vision and the activities held at the centre over the past fifty years. Neville Rees told us of the privilege he’d had to serve as a leader and chairperson of the English camps committee. He took us through some of the camps work where many young people came to know the Saviour. Many are now in full-time Christian work. John Davies reflected on the ministers’ conferences. He shared the burden that they’d had for revival in Wales. Gwydion Lewis, as the current chairperson for the Welsh camps, gave an account of this ministry. Hywel Meredith took us back to the early vision of the purchase of Bryn-y-groes. He told us of the move, as a family, along with Gwilym Humphreys’ family and Mair Jones to Eryl Aran only to find that house too small for the vision his father and Gwilym had. He excited us with the account of how Gwilym Humphreys had looked over the garden hedge at the property next door and told his father that the Lord was going to give them the house, which wasn’t even for sale at the time!

I have a deep fondness for Bryn-y-groes. As one of the young people from the Mission Hall in Cwmtwrch I was one of the first campers in Glynllifon and then Bryn-y-groes. We were given great ministry and had a tremendous amount of fun during our weeks at camp. We met many young people from all over Wales and formed friendships which have lasted the fifty years. Many years later I was able to give something back by leading camps there and organising camps as the chairperson. My grandfather, George Griffiths, also had a fondness for Bryn-y-groes. He went for many years to the ministers’ conference and regularly shared the ministry and the prayer burden with us on his return. God has blessed the work in Bryn-y-groes.

The celebrations were completed with a word from Gwynn Williams. He exhorted us to ‘give thanks’ consistently and to count our blessings which gives us joy and a sense of well being. He outlined four points for us. The wonder of God’s creation and the placement of Bryn-y-groes. God’s providence in the events that led up to the purchase of the centre. Events that happen at the right time and the right place. God’s salvation and Bryn-y-groes (‘the mount of the cross’) a place where the cross would be preached. And God’s new birth. The Holy Spirit came to Bryn-y-groes over the years and gave new birth to many. They came – He came – lives were moved! He ended by exhorting us to look forward and to pray that the Holy Spirit would come more often to Bryn-y-groes.

Ian Garrero